Wednesday, June 6, 2018

WARREN AREA CHAMBER MEETING

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Lunch provided by Kim’s Katered Affair
Prayer led by Rusty Strickler

Introduction of chamber members and guests
Minutes of Previous Meeting and Treasurer’s Report approved at Chamber Board Meeting
Business Spotlight – Salamonie Summer Festival and Professional Hearing Care

• Cheryl DeWeese shared that the town & fire department will be cleaning the streets on Wednesday, June 27^th. We will need help cleaning the windows, etc., after the streets have been sprayed.

  The Samuel Jones Breakfast will be Friday, June 29^th 7:30 AM at the Knight Bergman Center.  Pre-sale tickets are available at both banks, East of Chicago and the Town Hall, pre-sale price is $9.50 each, and they will be $11.00 at the door. Parade is Friday at 7:00 PM with a “Movie on the Hill” at KBC at dark after the parade.  Check out the many new, and returning events for this 51^st SSF, which was created for family fun & friendship.  2^nd Annual Family Fun Freeway; Saturday 1:00 – 4:00 PM Horse & Pony Pull will be at the KBC tractor pull site.  Sunday, Truck Jam downtown.  Monday off. Fireworks will be Tuesday at Dusk aka about 10 PM at Tower Park, with a kickball tournament earlier that evening.  Volleyball Tournament will be on Wednesday.       Festival Guides will be available this week.

• Kelsie Tomlin highlighted their many services including complimentary/free hearing screening, ear wax removal, servicing for all makes and models of hearing aids and HA batteries, pediatric to geriatric patients. There are open Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

New Business:

• Alley Improvement – Jeremy Rufener presented a desire to enhance our alleys with lighting, etc., as other cities are doing successfully.
• Warren Marketplace – Thursdays, 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the new park by the post office. We have new vendors and need more buyers.

Old Business:

• Samuel Jones Breakfast – need volunteers.
• SSF Clean Up – Wednesday 6/17 at 6:00 PM, meet at Town Hall.
• Beer/Wine Tasting Event – Next meeting is 7:30 AM on 7/19 at SonRise Bakery for all interested.

Updates:

• Downtown Park – Permits are pulled and ready to go. Large tree is successfully installed.
• HCUED – Mark Wickersham updated about finished 4^th industrial park project this year. Working on several projects.  Unemployment is down from 4% to 3.1%!  Brickley property working on due diligence, and they have one potential buyer.
• HC Community Foundation – Michael Howell stated the grants and scholarships have been awarded, and Warren students received nearly 1/3 of the total awarded. $4,000 grant awarded for the concession stand at Tower Park.
• HCCSC Board – Matt Roth stated that WAMA led the Invocation at the School Board meeting, thanks so much. HNHS graduated 353 students last Sunday.  They are investing heavily in HNHS security and upgrades, etc. with more planned in 2022.  They enjoyed a great 50 year celebration at NorthWest with 500-550 in attendance, and the 50 year celebration at Lancaster was also well attended.
• United Way – Kyle stated they are sending surveys to families to assess their needs. They have obtained  $127,000 in Grant Monies for Pre-K Childcare.
• Warren Town Council – Ethan Stivers thanked Rose Broyles for the successful kids summer lunch food service program at the KBC. The 11^th Street project will be underway from July – October.  There is new playground equipment on Main Street, which is open to all kids and adults.  The next Town Council meeting will be held 6/11/18 at 5:00 PM.
• Creative Arts Outreach – Josh Heim noted they will have the Art show for the SSF in the old Fire Station on 2^nd Street with 7 stations for free kids crafts on Saturday. There will also be an animal balloon creator, and face painting available for a couple of hours Sat. afternoon.  Please have your business participate in the Wind chime Contest!  They will also be hosting 3 Clay Camps for Kids this summer.

Announcements or Additional Comments:

• 1^st Baptist Church – Joe Wiley shared they are involved in a Nationwide Program for an Open Library. Rusty Strickler promoted their Backpack Palooza being held on 7/28/18.

The next meeting will be held on August 1st.